Toll roads to beat MAP-21 interoperability deadline

The Alliance for Toll Interoperability and Secure Interagency Flow LLC have signed a deal that’ll make it much easier for drivers crossing state lines to pay tolls.

They’re creating a North American interoperability hub that will bill motorists based on license plate camera reads and transponders in vehicles. Agencies will be able to enroll in the program starting September 2013, and the system will begin operations by the end of the year.

“This is an important development for knitting together regions that aren’t currently interoperable with one another,” says International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association Executive Director Pat Jones. Last year’s federal transportation law, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), mandates nationwide interoperability by 2016.

In addition to the hub, the agreement:

Allows for additional services such as financial reconciliation and dispute resolution

Paves the way for other services, such as violation enforcement and license plate data lookup

Facilitates interchange transactions in real time with related hubs, such as parking and public transit, to provide a seamless transportation account for the public.

Since 2009, 43 U.S. and Canadian toll road operators have joined the Alliance for Toll Interoperability. Secure Interagency Flow is a joint venture of sanef its america Inc. and Egis Projects Inc.